Why the Year of the Wood Snake starting in 2025 could bring major change, and more luck

With 12 animals and 5 elements, the Year of the Wood Snake comes around every 60 years, and 2025’s may be more favourable than 1965’s

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A snake at a farm in Bangkok, Thailand. The next lunar new year will be a Year of the Wood Snake, which comes around every 60 years. The previous one, in 1965, saw dynamic change and upheaval. Are we in for more of the same? Photo: Getty Images

Xinyi Wu

Published: 7:15am, 3 Dec 2024Updated: 8:37am, 7 Dec 2024

On January 29, 2025, the celestial dragon will make way for the earthly snake in the Chinese lunisolar calendar.

There are 12 zodiac animals in Chinese astrology, and each possesses a set of unique qualities. Each year, an animal is paired with one of the five elements – metal, wood, water, fire and earth. The elements complement and clash with one another, but it is this constant interplay that is believed to promote harmony, balance and order in the natural world.

The unique qualities of an elemental zodiac are often used to describe the personality traits of individuals born in that year.

In 2025, we welcome the Year of the Wood Snake. It is also known as the Year of the Green Snake, as wood is associated with the colour green according to the Chinese theory of five elements, so you can expect to see a lot of snake decorations and motifs in that vibrant hue.

Snakes made of palm leaves are displayed in Shanghai to celebrate the previous Year of the Snake in 2013. Photo: Getty Images

While the snake may symbolise evil and treachery in some traditions – the serpent represents the devil and temptation in the Christian Bible, for instance – in Chinese culture it symbolises wisdom and agility.

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Year of the Snake 2025: predictions, facts, myths and feng shui

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